(Minghui.org) Mr. Zhao Jiyuan, a resident in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, was sentenced to 7.5 years in the Jinzhou City Prison following a hearing on December 10, 2019. It was recently learned that he has fallen into critical condition as a result of being tortured, but the details remain to be investigated.
Mr. Zhao, 68, is a former employee of the Shenyang City Fourth Construction Company. He was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer in July 1998. He had trouble swallowing and even vomited after drinking water. He lost a lot of weight. One day in December 1998, he listened to audio tapes of the Falun Gong teachings given by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Miraculously he was able to eat and sweep his yard the next day. He soon returned to work.
Mr. Zhao was amazed and started practicing Falun Gong. He told everyone he knew that Falun Gong saved his life.
The Shenyang Political and Legal Affairs Committee dispatched police on July 10, 2019 to arrest more than 20 practitioners in the name of maintaining stability ahead of the Chinese Communist Party’s 70th anniversary since it took power in 1949. Mr. Zhao, then 65, and his wife, Ms. Li Xiujie, were both arrested. He was savagely beaten at the local detention center.
Mr. Zhao appeared in Heping District Court three months later. He refuted the charges against him and refused to sign the court proceedings.
After the hearing, the judge asked Mr. Zhao’s son to persuade him to admit guilt. The judge promised to give him only three years if he complied but threatened to sentence him to seven years if he refused.
Mr. Zhao insisted that he broke no law by practicing Falun Gong. The judge sentenced him to 7.5 years and ordered him to serve time in the Jinzhou City Prison.
The prison denied him family visits because he held firm in his faith. He was only allowed to spend 100 yuan to purchase daily necessities.
Jinzhou City Prison is the largest prison in western Liaoning Province. It is under the administration of the Liaoning Judicial Bureau’s Prison Administration Office. The prison officials and guards have actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong for the past 23 years. The Ministry of Justice awarded the prison the title of “Modern Civilized Prison” in 2018 and gave the prison “First-class Merit” on July 22, 2013.
According to Minghui.org, at least three practitioners the Jinzhou City Prison have been confirmed to have died from torture, including Zhang Litian, Cui Zhilin, and Xin Minduo. More practitioners have been injured or maimed in the prison, including Tian Baochang, Yin Guozhi, Ma Wanlin, Sui Yongyan, Li Juechun, Liu Wansheng, Lyv Kaili, Zhang Jihong, Pan Yufeng, Deng Yulin, Li Kai, Ju Shimiao, Zhao Liang, Zhang Kunshan, Wu Chengjun, Hu Zhanting, and Zhang Chengjie.
Nearly 100 guards took part in the persecution. In addition to Mr. Zhao, many other practitioners remain imprisoned and are being subjected to various forms of torture.
Deputy warden Wang Hongbo was investigated for taking bribes. He hanged himself in November 2015. Many locals commented that this was retribution for persecuting Falun Gong.
Past Persecution
Mr. Zhao twice went to Beijing after the persecution began in 1999, to appeal for his right to practice Falun Gong. He was arrested both times. In December 1999, he was sent to Longshan Labor Camp in Shenyang City, and was released in June 2000.
Mr. Zhao was arrested on February 27, 2001 for putting up banners exposing the persecution of Falun Gong. He was initially sentenced to five years. The judge asked him if he intended to file an appeal. He said yes and the judge added two more years to his term. He was taken to the Shenyang Second Prison on February 10, 2002 and jailed there until February 26, 2008.
Mr. Zhao’s family was entitled to the compensation given to people whose houses were demolished by the government for urban development. The local government has withheld the compensation for years using his prison sentence as an excuse.
Jinzhou City Prison is located at 89 Jinshan Street, Taihe District, Jinhou City, Liaoning Province, 121013Phone numbers: 86+416-7989155, 86+416-7989567, 86+416-7989157
Related Report:Once Imprisoned for 7 Years, Liaoning Man Sentenced Again to 7.5 Years for His Faith
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